Australia to make tech companies pay more outlets for content under reworked media law

Australia raised the number of deals large tech firms must strike with local news outlets under a revamp of its media licensing laws introduced to parliament on Thursday, the government said, adding the measure would distribute advertising revenue to more domestic outlets.

The changes also commit the government to giving 5% of funds raised under the scheme to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), the formerly industry-owned newswire service, which now runs as a non-profit.

Changes made after discussions between government and opposition would also require digital platforms to strike deals with at least eight media companies, up from six in an earlier draft.

The government also reinstated a cap limiting any single deal to 25% of a platform's levy liability under the law, which is equal to 2.5% of a company's Australian advertising revenue, with the amount they pay offset by the value of deals they strike.